Folding mechanism for packaging machines



p 3932- w. B. BRONANDER I L FOLDING MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed Feb. 5, 1950 a Fl 6. 2 v

I ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1932 NT OFFICE WILHELMI B. BRONANDER, F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY I FOLDING MECHANISM FOR lACKAGING MACHINES Application filed February 5, 1930. Serial No. 426,106.

This invention relates to improvements in folding mechanisms for packaging machines of the type in which an inner wrapper and an external pouch or label sheet are folded to 5 form a container for packagin cigarettes or other articles. The main object of the present invention is to provide folding mechanism for this purpose whichdoes the folding in a simpler manner, has fewer parts, and

requires a lesser number of folding stations andless time than prior machines for the same purpose.

Another object is to so position and fold the wrapper and label sheet that though certain folding operations aredispensed with,

the finished cbntainer has the same appearance as prior containers made with a greater number of foldin operations. Still another object iskto provi e for folding adjacent flaps of both the inner and outer sheets as a unit thereby eliminating certain folding operations, at the same time providing a surface on the inside of the outer sheet which is not.

shielded by the inner sheet against receiving paste or being otherwise sealed.

Another object is to provide folding mechanism in which there is no scraping of the foil ordinarily used for forming the innerwrapper. Another object is to provide folding mechanism capable of substitution in the above mentioned type machine 'for operation by the operating means already provided therein so as to obtain the above objects without requiring 'any extensive reconstruction of the machine. Another object is to accomplish the above without locking the flaps at the closed end of the pouch so that the cigarettes may be inspected from the bottom without necessitating repackaging.

. In packaging machines of this type at pres- ..ent employed, such for instance as that disclosed in application No. 283, 7 58, filed J une.

8, 1928, by the present applicant-and in a "corresponding British Patent No. 328,310 to the American Machine and Foundry Company, a tin foil wrapper is cut from'a roll and applied to one ofa plurality of symmetrically arranged arbors carried by a revolving turret,and the foldingof this wrapper is completed, except the closing of oneeend, before the paper pouch, which forms the label, is applied, thereby necessitating ten separate folding operations, including the feeding of" the foil and of the label, performed at six different stations of the turret, before the container is completed.

By the present arrangement, the tin foil wrapper and paper pouch are folded on the arbor at the same time and as-a unit,.'so that only seven separate operations at four turret stations are required to achieve the same rewhich like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts, Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic end elevation of a packaging machine arranged in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is' a detail side elevation partly broken away on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation, on line 3 -3 ofFig. 1 Fig. 4 is a side view, on line 44 of Fig. 1,- of the, third working station, C; and Fig. 5 is a side view, on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, of the fourth working station, D.

In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided a series of traveling mandrels together with means at one station for associatin g a first sheet with one of said mandrels, folders for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrap ping the second sheet about the mandrel, and mechanism operating on both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel. In the best constructions said instrumentalities include means operatin to position said second sheet in ofl'set re ation to said first sheet to cause driven intermittentl the second sheet on completion of folding to hide the seam of the first sheet. Preferably the said means operate to position the sheet'with a flap overhanging the forward end edge of the mandrel andsaid instrumentalities include a device for folding said" flap on the end of the mandrel prior to association of the second sheet with said mandrel.

The method employed in forming a container in accordance with the invention consists in providing a mandrel of the shape desired, partially wrapping a first sheet in trough formation about the front and sides and overhanging an end of said mandrel, and wrapping a second sheet also in trough formation about front and sides of said mandrel with one side flap thereof projectinglbeyond the adjacent first sheet flap so as to ide the seam of the first sheet, and folding the ovgr hanging end flaps to close the container on Referring now to the drawing, the construction selected for illustration is shown 1n connection with the packa ing machine disclosed in the above identified application to which reference is made for details not here shown since only so much of theprior machine is shown as is deemed necessary to a ready understanding of the present invention.

The turret of the packaging machine is in synchronism with the working parts 0 the several folding devices and carries a-number of symmetrically spaced h ollow mandrels 11 of the same shape as the-container to be made. With each of these mandrels is associated two movable arms 12 and 13 carrying respectively, clamp plates 14' and seam pressing strips 15 and 16,

the construction and operation of which are fully disclosed in the above mentioned application.

At the first'turret station A 1) the tin foil F, preferably paper lined, is fed from a reel not shown by feed rollers 18, throu h vertical guides 19, in order to associate t e tin foil or first wrappersheet with one of the mandrels, whereupon a lining sufficient for forming one container is cut off by the knife 20. The vertical feeding of the wrapper material here ,is. advanta eous because gravity ,aids feeding and positioning of the'sheet. The out wrapper sheet is then held against the front wall of the mandrel 11 by the clamp plate 14 which closes just before the foil is severed, which clamp, serves to hold the foil inproper position during subsequent travel of the mandrel and folding of the sheet thereabout. Y

The overhanging side flaps of the foil sheet are folded in trough formation against the sides of the mandrel by stationary folders including-rods 21 placed on opposite sides of the path of travel of the mandrels 11 between the working stations A and B. .As the from the magazine to a position under the front of the mandrel as shown in Figs. 1 and having horizontally reciprocating movement I,

3. Separate horizontal feeding of out sheets 4 is desirable in this machine because the separate sheets always have their printing in proper register and the separate sheets are more easily supported when horizontal. The transfer device as shown in Fig. 3' reciprocates endwise of the mandrel, and is positioned to deliver the sheets in offset relation with respect to the wrapper sheet already on the mandrel so that one flap thereon will projectbeyond the corresponding flap of the first or foil sheet as shown at Station C, in Fig. 1. After transfer of this sheet P the clamp 14 located in the clearance between the bars of the transfer 23, which was open to receive said sheet P, closes again and thereby holds the sheet in proper oflset relation, as already described.

As the mandrel 11 arrives at station B, the flap overhanging the forward end edge of the mandrel is struck up and folded on the mandrel end (Fig. 3)., by a folder24 which is preferably stationary but which may be oscillated in more refined constructions, if desired.

The importance of this folding operation by the element 24 will be apparent when it is noted that without such foldin the several end flaps of the outer sheet woul be shielded and an paste applied inthe usual manner would e located only on the inner wrapper thus leaving the last end flap of the outer sheet unpasted. By folding as described, the last folded end flap of the outer sheet may be pasted and thus the end sealed despite the unitary folding of the adjacent first and sec- 0nd sheet flaps as hereinafter described. This tucking of the forward end flap .of the inner Upon leaving station B, the mandrel enters between the stationary circular folding plates 26 which fold up the overhanging sides of the label. sheet. P as the mandrel passes between them, so that the package arrives at station 0 with the sides of both the foil wrapper F and of the label sheet P turned up in troughformation about the front and sides of the? mandrel.

These upturned sides are laid smooth on the mandrel sides by the stationary brushes 27 and their overhanging,

ends are prevented from sagging down too lowby the stationary rods 28. The turret plates being pivoted to their actuating arms and guided in parallel motion by suitable means well known in the art such as those shown in the abovementioned application. As will be seen in Fig. 1, the arm 30 carrying the folding plate 32 is moved in by a reciproeating link 300 connected to a lug 306 on the arm. An arm 30a connected to the arm 30 carries a protection which engages a shorter arm 29a secured to the arm 29, which arm is pulled against the arm 30a by 'a spring 29?). Since the arm 29a is shorter, giving greater leverage than arm 30a folding plate 31 acts first laying the left hand flaps under the right hand flaps. Paste is applied to the edge of the longer label sheet side flap by any suitable means not shown, so that the second folding opera tion at this station seals the side of the package. It is noted that ofli'setting sheet P with respect to sheet F so that the outer-right hand side flap (station C, Fig. 1) projects beyond the corresponding inner side flap,'not only serves to conceal the seam of the inner sheet on completion of folding but lays the edge portion of the projecting flap open to paste application and provides a sealing surface, thus eliminating otherwise serious objections to the simple unitary folding of inner and outer sheets.

As the plates 31 and 32 are retracted to their neutral position after having folded the the package is ready to be discharged from the turret, thus keeping the sealed seam under pressure until the paste has dried.

At station D the folding of the container about the sides and one end of the mandrel is completed by foldingthe overhanging end flaps. First, the side tuckers 33 move towards each other close to the forward end of the mandrel, Fig. 5, whereby the side end flaps of both wrappers F and P are tucked in over the mandrel; and then the folding plate 34 is moved forward, in the direction of the turret rotation, by the arm 35, thus folding as a unit the adjacent rear end flaps of both wrappers over the end of the mandrel.

In leaving this station, the remaining front end flap of the label sheet P, to the inside edge of which paste has been applied, engages with the stationary roller 36 held in fork 37. This folds said front end flap over the previously folded rear end flap and 'comnow forms a complete open container sealed at the bottom and along one of its sides, ready to be filled, by inserting cigarettes or other articles through the hollow mandrel discharged from the turret mandrel, and

closed. The filling and ejecting operations are performed at station A, which is the starting station as well as the finishing station. As

the mandrel with the completed pouch package returns to station A, a cam operated drel and out at the front end, see dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby stripping the pouch from the mandrel and filling itat the same time. The plunger '38, after expelling the filled package, remains at the front or delivery end of the mandrel and serves as a backing for the ensuing folding operations at stations 'plunger 38, shown in Fig. 2, and more fully I B, C, and D, being withdrawn from the mandrel, after the latter has left station D and before it returns to station A, a sufficient distance to permit the cigarettes C to enter between it and the rear or receiving end of the mandrel.

Thus though the folding of the two sheets has been greatly simplified by folding a number of the adjacent flaps thereof as units, a container for forming a package has been formed which is identical in outward appearance and which is as thoroughly sealedas packages produced by completely folding.

first an inner and then an outer sheet. In

view of the above, further description of the operation of this device is deemed unnecessary and is omitted in the interest of brevity.

What is claimed is which consists in providing a mandrel of the shape of the container to be made, partially wrapping a first sheet in trough formation about the front and sides and overhanging an end of said mandrel, then wrapping a second sheet in trough formation about the front and sides of said mandrel with one side flap thereof projecting beyond the adjacent flap of the first sheet, folding as a unit the other side flaps of the first andsecond sheets, thereafter folding as a unit the projecting side flap and the adjacent first sheet flap so as tohide the seam of the first sheet, and folding the overhanging end flaps to close the container end.

- 2. The method of forming a container which consists in providing a mandrel of the shape of the container to be made, partially wrapping a first sheet in trough formation about the front and sides and overhang ng an end of said mandrel, folding the overhang- 1..The method of forming a container 7 ing front end flap against the endof the mandrel then wrapping a second sheet in trough formation about the front and sides of said mandrel with one side flap thereof ,5 projecting beyond the adjacent flap of the hide the seam of the first sheet, and folding er end. a I

3. The combination with a series of traveling mandrels, of means at one station for associating a first sheet with one of said mandrels, means for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrapping the second sheet about the man'- drel, and mechanism operating on both of the overhanging end flaps to close the containsaid sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel.

4. The combination with a series of traveling mandrels, of means at one station for associating a first sheet with one of said mandrels, means for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrapping the second sheet about the mandrel, and

mechanism engaging on the second sheet only and folding both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel.

5. The combination with a series of traveling mandrels, of means at one station for associating a first sheet with one of said mandrels, folders for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrapping the second sheet about the mandrel, and mechanism operating on both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel, said means including a clamp traveling with each of said mandrels for successively securing said first sheet against the forward side of said mandrel and said second sheet against the forward side of said first sheet.

6. The combination with a series of traveling mandrels, of means at one station for associating a first sheet with one of said mandrels, means for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at' another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrap: ping the second sheet about the mandrel, and

- mechanism operating on both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel, said associating means including wrapper material feeding and severing devices for feeding sheets vertically from a continuous strip to a position in front of the mandrel and said instrumentalities including means for feeding cut label sheets horizontally into a position in front of the mandrel. 7. The combination with a series of traveling mandrels, of means at one station for associating a first sheet with one of said mandrels, means forpartially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrapping the second sheet about the mandrel, and mechanism operating on both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel, said means for partially wrapping the sheet about the mandrel operating to holdthe first sheet wrapped about the front and sides of said mandrel during the operation of said instrumentalities.

8. The combination with a series of traveling mandrels, of means at one station for associating a first sheet With one of said mandrels, means for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel,v instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with sald mandrel, devices for partially v wrapping the second sheet about the mandrel, and mechanism operating on both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel, said means for partially wrapping the sheet about the mandrel inc1ud= associating a first sheet with one of said mandrels, folders for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at eling mandrels, of means at one station forassociating a first sheet with one of said mandrels, folders for partially wrapping 7 said sheetabout the mandrel, instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrapping the second sheet about the mandrel, and mechanism operating on both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding ofsaid sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel, said instrumentali- 1 ties' including means operating re position said second sheet in offset relation to said first sheet to cause the second sheet on completion of folding to overlap the seam of the first sheet.

11. The combination with a series of traveling mandrels, of means at one station for associating a first sheet withone of said mandrels, folders for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrapping the second sheet about the mandrel, and mechanism operating on both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel, said instrumentalities including a sheet carrier movable. to and from a position adjacent the front of the mandrel in which the second sheet carried thereby is ofiset edgewise with respect to the first sheet to cause said second sheet to overlap the seam of the first sheet.

12. The combination with a series of traveling mandrels, of means at one station for associating'a first sheet with one of said mandrels, folders for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel. devices for partially wrapping the second sheet about the mandrel, and mechanism operating on both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and one end of said mandrel, saidinstrumentalities including means operating to position said second sheet in ofi'set relation to the first sheet to therebyprovide an overlapping side flap projecting beyond the corresponding side flap of first sheet, and said devices operating to fold the projecting flap subsequent to folding of the flaps on the opposite side of the mandrel.

another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrapping the second sheet about the mandrel, and mechanism operating on both of said sheets as a single unit to complete the folding of said sheets about the sides and oneend of said mandrel, said associating means operat- 'ing-to position the sheet with a flap overhanging the forward end edge of themandrel and said instrumentalities including a device for folding said flap on the end of the mandrel prior to association of the second sheet with said mandrel.

14. The combination with a series of traveling mandrels, of means at one station for 13.' The combination with a series of travdrels, means for partially wrapping said sheet about the mandrel, instrumentalities at another station for associating a second sheet with said mandrel, devices for partially wrapping the second sheet about the mandrel,

projectingbeyond the adjacent side flap of the inner sheet, and mechanism operating to fold as units the adjacent inner and outer sheet side flaps on the element to complete the folding about the sides thereof, said mechanism being arranged to fold the projecting flap and the adjacent inner sheet flap subse quent to the folding of the other side flaps.

16. The combination with an element of the shape of a package to be formed, of means for wrapping an inner sheet about the sides of said element and overhanging one end thereof, a device for folding in one of the overhanging end flaps of said inner sheet, means for folding an outer sheet about the sides and overhanging the end of said element, and mechanism for folding in as units the double end flaps formed by the two sheets, and means for subsequentlyfolding in the remaining single outer sheet flap to complete the end folding. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. I WILHELM B, BRUNANDER. 

